1920 United States Senate election in Colorado

1920 United States Senate election in Colorado

←  1914 November 2, 1920 1924 (special)  →

Nominee Samuel D. Nicholson Tully Scott Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 157,577 112,890 Percentage 54.52% 39.31%

Results by county Nicholson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Scott:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election Charles S. Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Samuel D. Nicholson Republican

The 1920 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Democratic Senator Charles S. Thomas initially declined to run for re-election, and State Supreme Court Justice Tully Scott won the Democratic nomination to succeed him, facing off against former Leadville Mayor Samuel D. Nicholson, the Republican nominee. However, in October 1920, Thomas announced that he would run for re-election as the nominee of the National Party. ^[1] However, Thomas's decision did not ultimately affect the outcome of the election. Aided by Republican presidential nominee Warren G. Harding's strong performance in the state, as well as Republican Governor Oliver Henry Shoup's landslide re-election, Nicholson defeated Tully and Thomas in a landslide. Out of four candidates, Thomas placed fourth, winning just 3% of the vote and finishing behind Farmer–Labor nominee G. F. Stevens.

Nicholson did not end up serving for the entire six-year term for which he was elected; he died in office on March 24, 1923, triggering a special election in 1924.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tully Scott, Colorado Supreme Court Justice
• W. R. Callicotte, Chairman of the Colorado Farmers' Union ^[2]
• William C. Danks, former Littleton City Councilman ^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tully Scott	22,740	43.16
	Democratic	W. R. Callicotte	22,660	43.01
	Democratic	William C. Danks	7,283	13.82
Total votes			52,683	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Samuel D. Nicholson, former Mayor of Leadville, 1914 and 1916 Republican candidate for Governor
• Karl C. Schuyler, attorney
• Rice W. Means, former Adams County Judge

Results

Republican primary results ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel D. Nicholson	31,778	41.38
	Republican	Karl C. Schuyler	31,372	40.85
	Republican	Rice W. Means	13,650	17.77
Total votes			76,800	100.00

General election

Results

1920 United States Senate election in Colorado ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Samuel D. Nicholson	156,577	54.52%	+15.52%
	Democratic	Tully Scott	112,890	39.31%	−0.99%
	Farmer–Labor	G. F. Stevens	9,041	3.15%	–
	National	Charles S. Thomas (inc.)	8,665	3.02%	–
	Write-ins		27	0.01%	–
Majority			43,687	15.21%	+13.90%
Turnout			287,200
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. "Says Thomas Cannot Expect Democratic Support". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. October 13, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
2. "Democratic Candidates Meet with Enthusiastic Crows in All Parts of Routt County". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. October 20, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
3. "Vote for William C. Danks". Eagle Valley Enterprise. Eagle, Colorado. September 3, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
4. Milliken, Carl S. (1921). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Fourteenth Day of September A. D. 1920 and the General Election Held on the Second Day of November, A. D. 1920 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.